A teacher at a private girls' school has been banned from the profession for failing to disclose that his fiancé had been convicted of multiple child sex offenses. Thomas Ridgway, 31, was suspended from Heathfield, an independent school in Ascot, Berkshire, after his fiancé, Matthew Linfield, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for his crimes.
The school only became aware of Linfield's convictions after an email from a member of the public, which included a link to a news article about the sentencing. Ridgway, who began working at Heathfield as a photography technician in 2019, was subsequently found guilty by a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) panel for failing to disclose Linfield's conviction, subsequent prison sentence, and his placement on the sex offender register for life.
There is no suggestion that Ridgway himself was accused of any crime. However, social media posts indicated that Ridgway and Linfield continued their relationship after Linfield's conviction. Ridgway posted photos of the couple together as late as October 2023, two months after Linfield's conviction and before his December sentencing.
Linfield was convicted in June 2023 after being reported to police in April 2021. His offenses involved offering a boy money for sexual favors and sending the child an indecent image. He also pressured a second victim, aged between 11 and 13, into sexual activity for money and food, and had sexually assaulted a third victim on several occasions. In total, Linfield was convicted of ten offenses of sexual activity with a boy, all of which occurred in Lancashire.
Ridgway had known Linfield since around 2018 and they had been living together since January 2022. Ridgway was accused of not disclosing to Heathfield School that Linfield was under police investigation for the offenses in or around 2023. The tribunal found this specific allegation not proven.
However, the tribunal found it proved that Ridgway failed to disclose Linfield's conviction, prison sentence, and that his fiancé was ordered to sign the sex offender register between June 19, 2023, and December 14, 2023. Ridgway, who did not give evidence, was struck off by the TRA.
Ridgway stated that he believed Linfield's conviction occurred at the sentencing date and claimed he was not aware of the conviction at the time. He also stated he asked Linfield's relative, Brian Linfield, if there was anything to disclose. According to tribunal documents, Ridgway claimed he was not given details of the allegations, only that they were serious. He also noted that Linfield was never arrested, did not stand trial, and refused to allow Ridgway to attend any court or police interviews.
Linfield's evidence suggested he never fully discussed the situation with Ridgway, only stating that his solicitor was handling the case. After his court appearance on June 19, 2023, Linfield reportedly told Ridgway "it went OK." Brian Linfield had also reportedly sworn him to silence.
The TRA ruled that Ridgway knew of Linfield's conviction and sentence by December 6, 2023, and did not disclose it to the school. The panel was also satisfied that Ridgway became aware of the full circumstances of the offenses, including that they involved sexual offenses against children, after December 6, 2023, and did not disclose these details. Ridgway was found to have known about the conviction and sentence by December 6, 2023, and did not disclose it to the school.
The panel concluded that while Ridgway did not make a deliberate decision to conceal the matters, his actions lacked integrity. They noted he appeared "very badly affected" by Linfield's incarceration and was "naïve," having deferred to Brian Linfield for advice. However, the panel stated that Linfield's conviction and sentence were materially relevant to the school, carrying obvious reputational implications. Ridgway had an opportunity to disclose the information between December 6 and December 15, 2023, but did not.
Ridgway has been banned indefinitely from teaching in England and has the right to appeal to the High Court within 28 days or apply for the ban to be lifted in August 2028. He resigned from Heathfield in February 2024, shortly after his suspension the previous month.
